“Where are you from? I love your outfit! May I take a photo with you?” Chinese students prodded me in the crowds while I laughed – I wore nothing special. Only my hijab.
Last week under blue Beijing skies, TBC’s host university, the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), put on their yearly Cultural Fair. Not only international students, but Chinese minorities as well set up booths just outside the building TBC calls home. Walk to the right, and you’d pass the likes of Yemen, Oman, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Walk forward and you’d pass Italy, France, Tanzania, South Korea, and Ethiopia. Turn left and you’ll catch the likes of North Korea, Japan, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and so many more. Here, I’ve listed only perhaps half of the nations represented.
Last week under blue Beijing skies, TBC’s host university, the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), put on their yearly Cultural Fair. Not only international students, but Chinese minorities as well set up booths just outside the building TBC calls home. Walk to the right, and you’d pass the likes of Yemen, Oman, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Walk forward and you’d pass Italy, France, Tanzania, South Korea, and Ethiopia. Turn left and you’ll catch the likes of North Korea, Japan, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and so many more. Here, I’ve listed only perhaps half of the nations represented.
“Sounds like Xinjiang,” my friend giggled from where we sat behind a large speaker. “But it smells like Tibet!” She motioned to the next booth over, incense curling up from small pots. For TBC students such as myself who may not have the means to travel too extensively over the course of a semester in Beijing, UIBE’s annual spring Cultural Fairs offers a small glimpse into areas of the world we might otherwise not see. I encourage any student coming in the spring to bring your camera, free up your afternoon, and come ready to meet wonderful people, Chinese and foreign alike!
By Addy M., Loyola University Chicago, Spring 2017 Student
The past few weekends have been some of the most exciting of the entire semester, full of trips to the zoo, mountain hikes, ancient parks, and more! Our first trip out of many was a visit to the Beijing Zoo. I had mentioned earlier in the semester that I wanted to see some pandas, since I was in China after all, and our TBC friend Andy made it happen.
Spending a whole semester in Beijing, I knew I had to make the trip down south and check out Shanghai, and the city certainly lived up to the expectations. Everyone describes Shanghai as this super futuristic metropolis, and after spending a weekend there I understand why it has this reputation.